Singers sometimes don't like the way they sound on certain recordings. That's the time when an intuitive, subjective producer is needed. Al Green didn't like the sound of his voice on "Let's Stay Together." Producer Willie Mitchell disagreed, feeling that the record would be a hit. In fact, Mitchell had been looking for a falsetto who he could use as a strong counterpoint against his crack rhythm section. When he first started working with Green, one of his first moves was to have the singer sing in smoother, softer tones. Green had previous blues-tinged R&B hits with covers of Junior Parker's "Driving Wheel" and the Temptations' "I Can't Get Next to You." The transition wasn't only musical but also in appearance with Mitchell's suggesting the singer cut off his afro and wear nice, tailored suits. The genesis of "Let's Stay Together" began with Mitchell and drummer Al Jackson Jr. coming up with the rolling beat that characterized smooth piano changes. When Green returned, the duo gave him a demo and the singer finished writing the song in under 30 minutes. The million-selling single "Let's Stay Together" stayed at number one R&B for nine weeks and went to number one pop in early 1972. Tina Turner's early-1984 cover went to number three R&B and number 26 pop.
Al Green
Let's Stay Together
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Song Review by Ed Hogan
Appears On
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1972 | TRS / The Right Stuff | 3:18 | ||||
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1975 | Fat Possum Records | 3:18 | ||||
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1989 |
Various Artists
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Time / Life Music | 3:19 | |||
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1990 |
Various Artists
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Rhino | ||||
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1991 |
Various Artists
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K-Tel Distribution | 0:00 | |||
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1992 |
Various Artists
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Dino Entertainment | 4:46 | |||
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1992 |
Various Artists
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Time / Life Music | ||||
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1993 |
Various Artists
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JCI Associated Labels | ||||
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1994 |
Various Artists
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Original Sound Entertainment | 3:16 | |||
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1994 |
Various Artists
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Capitol | ||||
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1994 |
Various Artists
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Original Sound Entertainment | 3:16 | |||
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1994 |
Various Artists
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Ripete Records | 3:14 | |||
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1994 |
Original Soundtrack
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MCA | 3:15 | |||
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1994 |
Various Artists
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Geffen | 3:16 | |||
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1995 |
Various Artists
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Universal Special Products | 4:49 | |||
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1995 |
Various Artists
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1995 | Beechwood Music | |||||
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1995 |
Various Artists
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CEMA Special Markets | 3:15 | |||
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1995 |
Various Artists
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MCA | 3:14 | |||
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1995 |
Various Artists
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Friedman Fairgfax | 3:15 | |||
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1996 |
Various Artists
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Records | ||||
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1996 | Capitol | |||||
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1996 |
Original Soundtrack
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The Right Stuff / Capitol | 3:18 | |||
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1996 | Hi Records | 3:19 | ||||
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1997 | Capitol | 3:15 | ||||
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1997 |
Various Artists
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Coyote Records | 3:17 | |||
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1998 |
Various Artists
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EMI-Capitol Special Markets / CEMA Special Markets | 3:16 | |||
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1998 |
Various Artists
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Rhino | 3:18 | |||
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1998 |
Various Artists
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Crimson Productions | 3:17 | |||
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1998 | Hi Records | 3:21 | ||||
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1998 |
Various Artists
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Sony Music Distribution | 3:16 | |||
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1998 |
Various Artists
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Madacy Distribution / Time / Life Music | 3:41 | |||
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1998 |
Various Artists
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Razor & Tie | 3:15 | |||
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1999 |
Various Artists
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Platinum Disc | 3:17 | |||
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1999 |
Various Artists
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Crimson Productions | ||||
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1999 |
Various Artists
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Telstar TV Records | 3:14 | |||
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1999 |
Various Artists
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Reader's Digest Music | 0:00 | |||
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1999 |
Various Artists
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Primary Colors | 3:14 | |||
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1999 |
Various Artists
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The Right Stuff / Capitol | 3:18 | |||
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1999 |
Various Artists
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Friedman Fairgfax | 3:17 | |||
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1999 |
Various Artists
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Sony Music Distribution | 3:14 | |||
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1999 |
Various Artists
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Metacom | 3:15 | |||
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2000 |
Various Artists
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Platinum Disc | 3:17 | |||
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2000 |
Various Artists
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Ripete Records | 2:49 | |||
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2000 |
Various Artists
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EMI-Capitol Special Markets | 3:15 | |||
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2000 | Music Club International Records | 3:16 | ||||
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2000 |
Various Artists
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Rhino | 3:18 | |||
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2000 | Hi Records | 3:15 | ||||
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2000 | JVC Compact Discs | 3:14 | ||||
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2000 | Capitol | 4:45 | ||||
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2000 |
Original Soundtrack
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Dreamworks SKG | 3:15 | |||
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2000 |
Various Artists
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WEA | ||||
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2000 |
Various Artists
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BMG International | 3:16 | |||
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2000 |
Various Artists
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Trans World | 3:21 | |||
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2001 | Shock | 3:17 | ||||
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2001 |
Various Artists
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Rhino | 3:17 | |||
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2001 |
Various Artists
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Varese | 3:16 | |||
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2001 |
Various Artists
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Universal International | 4:43 | |||
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2001 |
Various Artists
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Rhino | 3:20 | |||
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2001 |
Various Artists
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Simply The Best (Netherlands) | 3:15 | |||
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2001 |
Various Artists
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Icehouse Records | 4:44 | |||
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2001 |
Various Artists
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The Right Stuff / Capitol | 4:45 | |||
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2001 |
Various Artists
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Buddha Records | 4:50 | |||
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2001 |
Various Artists
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Rhino | 3:20 | |||
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2001 |
Various Artists
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All Music Guide / Medalist Entertainment | 3:16 | |||
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2001 |
Various Artists
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Telstar TV Records | 3:14 | |||
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2001 | Music Club International Records | 3:18 | ||||
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2001 |
Various Artists
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Rhino | 3:19 | |||
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2002 |
Various Artists
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Connoisseur | 3:15 | |||
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2002 |
Various Artists
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Music For Two | 3:19 | |||
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2002 |
Various Artists
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Time / Life Music | 3:19 | |||
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2002 |
Various Artists
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Rhino | 3:18 | |||
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2002 |
Various Artists
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Q Records | 3:14 | |||
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2002 |
Various Artists
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UTV / Universal Distribution | 3:16 | |||
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2002 |
Various Artists
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Universal International | 3:17 | |||
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2003 |
Original Soundtrack
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Virgin | 3:15 | |||
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2003 |
Various Artists
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Brentwood Records | 3:14 | |||
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2003 | LateNightTales | 3:12 | ||||
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2003 |
Various Artists
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EMI Music Distribution | 3:18 | |||
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2003 |
Various Artists
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SPG | 3:15 | |||
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2003 |
Various Artists
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WEA International | 3:16 | |||
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2004 | The Right Stuff | 3:19 | ||||
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2004 |
Various Artists
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Warner Dance | 3:16 | |||
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2004 |
Various Artists
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BMG / BMG Heritage | 3:18 | |||
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2004 |
Various Artists
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Music Club International Records | 3:16 | |||
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2004 |
Various Artists
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Essential Records | 3:19 | |||
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2004 | EMI Music Distribution / Hi / The Right Stuff | 3:19 | ||||
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2005 |
Various Artists
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Collectables | 3:40 | |||
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2006 | Fat Possum Records / Hi Records / Turnstile | 3:18 | ||||
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2006 |
Various Artists
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Compass Productions | ||||
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2007 | Capitol / EMI Records | 3:17 | ||||
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2007 |
Various Artists
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Universal Music TV | 3:14 | |||
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2007 |
Various Artists
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Spirit Of (UK) | 3:17 | |||
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2011 |
Various Artists
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EMI / EMI Music Distribution / Joint Venture | 4:42 | |||
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2014 |
Various Artists
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Bear Family Records | 3:17 | |||
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Various Artists
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PolyGram |
